If you're like most Americans, you're probably feeling the pressure of the economic downturn. At the same time, though, you might want to update your home for spring and summer, to reflect the new season and give yourself a treat. Luckily, you can update your furniture on a budget, to provide yourself with a great new living room at a fraction of the usual cost.

To start your bargain-hunting, keep a price book. Whenever you see an ad for furniture on TV or in the newspaper, write down a description of the item and its price. That way, you'll be able to keep track of market trends. This approach takes a few weeks, but it ultimately pays off, because you'll be able to be confident that you've found the lowest possible price when you decide to purchase your item.

Additionally, you'll want to explore garage sales and moving sales. At each of these events, you might find an unexpected treasure for a bargain price. To make your shopping more efficient, plan to call the sellers a day or two in advance, to find out what furniture they're offering, and whether you'll need to bring your own truck or van to pick up your items. Also, you might ask if the sellers are willing to swap. If they have a couch, for example, and you have some extra chairs, find out if you could simply exchange them. This option would save both of you some time and money!

Another great place to find living room furniture is a thrift shop. Thrift shops often take donations from the public, so you might be able to drop off an older item while you search for a newer one. This would streamline your shopping process, making it more efficient than coordinating drop-offs and pick-ups at separate places. Best of all, you can often find great deals at a thrift store, on items like used bookshelves and tables. When you take them home, you can customize these items by sanding them down, repainting them, or simply covering the surfaces with scarves or place mats. That way, you can match your new items to your decorating style, and you'll have a new piece of personalized furniture at a bargain price.

When you're looking for living room furniture using any of these methods, you'll want to make sure that you have enough room to accommodate any new purchases in your house. Before you head to the garage sale or thrift store, be sure to take measurements of the open areas in your home, so that you won't buy a sofa or coffee table that just won't fit in your living room. If you write these measurements down in your price book, you'll be able to have an organized page of information for every potential purchase that you make. Simply throw the price book in your purse or glove compartment, and you'll be equipped to buy your new furniture whenever you happen to spot a great deal.

With a little bit of luck, and a good deal of preparation, you'll be able to find some great new furniture without sacrificing your budget!